UN expert calls for "immediate release" of two Russian poets
She called for the "immediate release" of the two men. Katzarova called on the Russian authorities to "immediately investigate the allegations of torture and ill-treatment" against Kamardin during his arrest.
Kamardin and Shtovba were detained in September 2022 after taking part in a public reading in Moscow in front of a statue of the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky - a meeting place for dissidents since the Soviet era. During the reading, Kamardin recited a poem entitled "Kill me, militiaman!", which criticized pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The two men were charged with "incitement to hatred" and "public calls for activities against state security". On December 28, they were sentenced by a Moscow court to prison terms of five and a half and seven years respectively.
"The nature of the charges, the severity of the sentences and the execution of the trial itself, based on the testimony of a 'secret witness', send a clear message to Russian society as a whole: dissenting voices, whether through poetry, art or other forms of expression, will have serious repercussions," explained Katzarova, who has been appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but does not speak on its behalf.
"Mock trials have become a tool of intimidation to incite fear and discourage others from speaking out against the war," Katzarova continued.
Russia has been suppressing critical voices for years, but the crackdown on dissent has taken on a new dimension with the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Since it began in February 2022, thousands of Russians have been sentenced for criticizing the war, in some cases to very harsh sentences.
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- The UN Human Rights Council's expert, Katzarova, has demanded an "immediate release" from Russian Moscow for the two detained poets.
- Katzarova emphasized the need for an "immediate investigation" into allegations of torture during the arrest of one of the poets, Kamardin.
- The two men, Kamardin and Shtovba, were arrested in Moscow in September 2022 following a public reading.
- They were charged with "incitement to hatred" and "public calls for activities against state security" and received prison terms of five and a half and seven years respectively.
- Russia's suppression of critical voices has intensified with the start of the war against Ukraine, leading to harsh sentences for thousands of Russians who criticize the conflict.
- Katzarova noted that the trial, which relied on a "secret witness's testimony", sent a chilling message to Russian society: dissenting voices will face serious consequences.
- Mock trials have become a weapon of intimidation, aiming to instill fear and discourage others from speaking out against the war.
- Human rights organizations are calling for an end to the mistreatment and imprisonment of men who express their views, urging "immediate release" from Seal Moscow.
- A delegation is planning to travel to Geneva to discuss the human rights situation in Russia and the ongoing violations against peaceful protesters.
Source: www.stern.de
